Tons of WWI silver found in Atlantic
- 13 years ago
These underwater shots show the wreckage of a British ship believed to be full of silver.
U.S. salvage company Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. said they found the remains of the SS Mantola under two-and-a-half kilometres of water in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Mantola sank on February 9th 1917 after being torpedoed by a German submarine during World War One.
It was believed to be carrying around 600,000 ounces of silver, worth around 19 million U.S. dollars at today's spot market price.
Earlier in the month, Odyssey had discovered the SS Gairsoppa shipwreck, sunk by a German U-Boat during World War Two and believed to be carrying around seven million ounces of silver - which would be the largest known cargo of precious metal ever recovered from the sea.
The British government has awarded Odyssey salvage contracts for both vessels.
The company aims to begin work at both sites - which are only about 160 kilometres apart - in spring 2012.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.
U.S. salvage company Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. said they found the remains of the SS Mantola under two-and-a-half kilometres of water in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Mantola sank on February 9th 1917 after being torpedoed by a German submarine during World War One.
It was believed to be carrying around 600,000 ounces of silver, worth around 19 million U.S. dollars at today's spot market price.
Earlier in the month, Odyssey had discovered the SS Gairsoppa shipwreck, sunk by a German U-Boat during World War Two and believed to be carrying around seven million ounces of silver - which would be the largest known cargo of precious metal ever recovered from the sea.
The British government has awarded Odyssey salvage contracts for both vessels.
The company aims to begin work at both sites - which are only about 160 kilometres apart - in spring 2012.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.